Paper fastener



H. D. SNYDER June 12, 1934.

PAPER FASTENER Filed Oct. 27, 1953 ATTORN EY5 Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to paper fasteners of the type'which are provided with a base and projecting prongs and a keeper or compressor adapted to engage the prongs and over which the latter are bent to secure a file of papers or the like.

Such fasteners have been manufactured heretofore varying lengths and with prongs also varying in length to meet the requirement of files of different dimensions. The manufacturer-has found it necessary to manufacture and stock large quantities of such paper fasteners of varying dimensions to meet the requirements of the trade. quired to stock the various sizes, so that his investment is increased.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a paper fastener in which separable prongs may be readily adjusted in various positions, such prongs being also interchangeable and variable as to length so that the fastener may be employed successfully with files of differing dimensions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 25 will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a view in perspective of a compressor embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the base and prongs adapted to co-operate with the compressor;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one end of the base illustrating engagement of the prong therewith;

Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3 showing the prong in reversed position;

Fig. 5 is a detail in section showing a slightly modified form of the prong;

4 Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the prong as illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective of a modified form of the prong;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating the co-operating base and compressor with the prong extending through a file of papers and locked;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating a modified form of the compressor;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a. view in perspective illustrating another modification of the base and prong; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 1212 of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates the base The stationer or dealer also is re-.

which may be made of any suitable material, preferably mild steel, and is provided with longitudinal ribs 6 to afford additional stiffness. The base is provided with a plurality of openings or slots arranged in pairs as indicated at '7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Any number of pairs of slots may be provided. The pairs are preferably arranged symmetrically with the exception of the slots 9, one of which is disposed approximately at the center of the base.

Separable prongs 12 of any suitable metal such as mild steel are assembled with the base, as indicated in Fig. 2, and are provided with extensions 13 underlying the base and lips 14 which are adapted to pass through the slot contiguous to that engaged by-the prong, thus securing the prong to the base. The prongs are flexible and are easily threaded through the base, and thus disposed in the position indicated in Fig. 3 or in the reverse position as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

It will be understood that the prongs may be disposed in engagement with the openings '7 and 11, and if desired also with the openings 9 to provide a central prong, and that the prongs may be adjusted to their reverse position as indicated in Fig. 8 and likewise may be sh'fted to the openings 8 and 10, so that the distance between the prongs in any case may be varied to meet the requirements of the user.

With the prongs thus in adjusted position, they may be disposed through openings 15 in a file of papers 16 as illustrated in Fig. 8, and engaged with the corresponding openings 7', 8', 9', 10 and 11' of a compressor 16. The compressor comprises a strip of any suitable metal such as mild steel having ribs 1'7 thereon to impart the desired stiffness, and with the ends 18 preferably flared slightly to prevent escape of the sliding locks 19 which are formed of strips of metal bent over the edges of the compressor. These locks are adapted to engage the ends of the prongs, after the latter are bent into the channel between the ribs 17, and thus to securely bind the file.

To prevent the looks from sliding over the entire length of the compressor when the prongs 12 are disposed in the position indicated in Fig. 8 to bind the file, I provide projections 20 adjacent each of the openings '7' to 11' inclusive in the compressor. These projections are preferably struck up from the body of the metal and are raised above the surface only to the extent that when the prongs are bent thereover the locks when in engagementwith the prongs, will bind and thus secure the prongs in the desired position. When the compressor is released and removed from the prongs, the slides may move freely overapproximately the entire length of the compressor. The effect of the projections is clearly indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawing. Obviously the projections may take any suitable form, as, for example, that indicated at 21 in Fig. 9 of the drawing.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, I have indicated a slightly different form of the invention, in which the prongs 22 are provided with extensions 23 and lips 24 and with a kink 25 which is adapted to pass through the cooperating slot in the base 5. The kink tends to hold the pron'g in its adjusted position, but permits removal 'of the prong by a slight bending movement.

In. Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawing, a modification is illustrated in which the base 26 is provided with pairs of openings 27, 28 and 29, and ribs 30 to afford stiffness. On the under side of the base between each pair of openings, a lip 31 is struck from the body of the metal and is adapted to engage an extension 32 of the prong 33. It will be noted that as in the preceding embodiments of the invention, the prong 33 may be reversed or used interchangeably in either of the openings of each pair, and that it will be held in the desired position by engagement with the contiguous lip 31. The distance between the prongs may be varied by shifting them with respect to the various openings, and prongs of different lengths can be substituted interchangeably in this device as in the preceding embodiment thereof.

The invention as described affords a simple and satisfactory paper fastener of the typementioned and permits a wide variation of the dimensions of the file, utilizing the same base and compressor with prongs of varying lengths interchangeably and adjustably arranged on the base. The necessity for manufacturing and stocking quantities of paper fasteners of varying dimensions is thus avoided.

Various changes may be made in the form, arrangement and construction of the parts without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spaced longitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass through either of the openings of each pair and having, when assembled with the base, extensions underlying the base and interlocking therewith to'hold the tongues in assembled relation with the base.

2. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spaced longitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass through either of the openings of each pair and having, when assembled with the base, extensions underlying the base terminating in lips which extend through the complementary openings of each pair and overlie the base.

3. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spaced longitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass through either of the openings of each pair and having, when assembled with the base, ex-

tensions underlying the base terminating in lips which extend through the complementary openings of each pair and overlie the base, the tongues being provided with kinks adjacent the first mentioned openings which tend to limit movement of the tongues relatively to the base.

4. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spaced longitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass through one of the openings of each pair and having, when assembled with the base, extensions underlying the base and lips on the underside of the base co-operating with the extensions when the tongues are disposed in either opening of each pair.

5. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spaced longitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass through either of the openings of each pair and having, when assembled with the base, extensions underlying the base and'interlocking therewith to hold the tongues in assembled relation with the base, and a compressor having openings to receive the tongues, and sliding locks adapted to engage and hold the ends of the tongues when the latter are bent over the compressor.

6. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spaced longitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass through either of the openings of each pair and having, when assembled with the base, extensions underlying the base terminating in lips which extend through the complementary openings of each pair and overlie the base, and a compressor having openings to receive the tongues, and sliding locks adapted to engage and hold the ends of the tongues when the latter are bent over the compressor.

7. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spaced longitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass a through either of the openings of each pair and 7 having, when assembled with the base, extensions underlying the base terminating in lips which extend through the complementary openings of each pair and overlie the base, the tongues being provided with kinks adjacent the first mentioned openings which tend to limit movement of the tongues relatively to the base, and a compressor having openings to receive the tongues, and sliding locks adapted to engage and hold the ends of the tongues when the latter are bent over the compressor.

8. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spacedlongitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass through one of the openings of each pair and having, when assembled with the base, extensions underlying the base and lips on the underside of the base co-operating with the extensions when the tongues are disposed in either opening of each pair, and a compressor having openings to receive the tongues, and sliding locks adapted to engage and hold the ends of the tongues when the latter are bent over the compressor.

9. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spaced longitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass through either of the openings of each pair and 1.13 having, when assembled with the base, extensions underlying the base and' interlocking therewith to hold the tongues in assembled relation with the base, and a compressor having openings to receive the tongues, projections adjacent the openings, and sliding locks adapted to engage and hold the ends of the tongues when the latter are bent over the compressor. 10. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spaced longitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass through either of the openings of each pair and having, when assembled with the base, extensions underlying the base terminating in lips which extend through the complementary openings of each pair and overlie the base, and a compressor having openings to receive the tongues, projeclions adjacent the openings, and sliding locks adapted to engage and hold the ends of the tongues when the latter are bent over the compressor.

11. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spaced longitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass through either of the openings of each pair and having, when assembled with the base, extensions underlying the base terminating in lips which extend through the complementary openings of each pair and overlie the base, the tongues being provided with kinks adjacent the first mentioned openings which tend to limit movement of the tongues relatively to the base, and a compressor having openings to receive the tongues, projections adjacent the openings, and sliding locks adapted to engage and hold the ends of the tongues when the latter are bent over the compressor.

12. In a paper fastener, a base having a plurality of pairs of openings spaced longitudinally thereof and tongues adapted interchangeably to pass through one of the openings of each pair and having, when assembled with the base, extensions underlying the base and lips on the underside of the base co-operating with the extensions when the tongues are disposed in either opening of each pair, and a compressor having openings to receive the tongues, projections adjacent the openings, and sliding locks adapted to engage and hold the ends of the tongues when the latter are bent over the compressor.

13. In a paper fastener, a compressor having a plurality of spaced openings arranged in pairs, sliding locks mounted on the compressor and projections adjacent each opening normally permitting the slides to move over substantially the length of the compressor but limiting such movement when a metal strip is interposed between a projection and lock.

14. In a paper fastener, a compressor having a plurality of spaced openings, sliding locks mounted on the compressor and projections adjacent each opening normally permitting the slides to move over substantially the length of the compressor but limiting such movement when a metal strip is interposed between a projection and lock.

HARRY D. SNYDER. 

